Horse itching nose whilst riding only.

BlackIrishBeauty

BlackIrishBeauty

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 September 2022
Messages
78
Visit site
Hi all,

Looking for your thoughts on the below!

Horse has started to sneeze and rub her nose when hacking in walk only. Almost like she’s irritated by pollen or flies. It started around March time. Shell then stop to rub her nose. It gets better after about 15 mins.

Now she did previously head shake due to compacted sinusitis and had a nasal flush. Because of this, she is on a breathing supplement plus 10 anti histamines a day through summer and ridden in a fly mask. She has been fine for 4-5 years though but then this has started but it is not the same as before- it’s only when ridden in walk, on a hack. In the school, she does it for the first 5-10 mins then it stops.

She had her saddle checked and she did have some muscle soreness from a previously ill fitting saddle (despite this being checked every 6 months- I’ve changed saddle fit) and is now seeing a physio every month plus a massage pad but whilst it has got better, it’s still there. Could this be the remnants of the ill fitting saddle? Part of me thinks so, but then the rubbing of the nose and sneezing indicates she’s struggling with allergies and we have had high pollen this year.

My next thought is teeth so we have an equine dentist coming on 3rd July.
 
Mine has struggled with high pollen this year so it could be that, but have you checked the fit of her bridle and bit?
 
This is going to be my next port of call after dentist. She did have some nerve damage after the nasal flush but she’s had the same bridle since then and has been fine.

I’m also going to get some nasal anti histamine spray for her
 
The pollen count is very high this year, I don't normally suffer with hayfever but I have been hit quite a bit this summer with it and sneezing my head off! I had one with a pollen allergy that I managed quite successfully on 10 cetirizine hydrochloride in each feed twice a day (buy online in bulk they're much cheaper), and a nose net helped a little.
 
She’s already in a fly mask with a nose net and has 10 anti histamine once a day (she’s a 15h cob) Will agree though- I’m thinking it’s pollen
 
BlackIrishBeauty said:
She’s already in a fly mask with a nose net and has 10 anti histamine once a day (she’s a 15h cob) Will agree though- I’m thinking it’s pollen
Click to expand...
Try doubling the dose, this was the dose my vet recommended for a horse of similar size. He still had some symptoms like rubbing his nose now and again but it certainly helped reduce them. Although my gelding is definitely suffering with a bit of hayfever at the moment - frequent nose rubbing and snorting when ridden, but it doesn't seem to be affecting his fitness or enthusiasm for work so I wouldn't worry overly.
 
I'd say it's pollen - my two boys are sneezing like mad, and Baggs my 20 year old is flinging his head around/trying to scratch his nose at any given opportunity when ridden at certain times of the day x
 
Between pollen and flies at the moment, my pony might flick her own head off her neck at some point, and she isn't normally that bothered by either! She does scratch her nose on her leg as a mild stress relief thing too though, similar to a big yawn or a lick and a chew. So I suppose there could be a niggle of stress or discomfort as well, but looks like you're already doing everything right to rule that out.
 
I have a mare who has a very sensitive respiratory system and when she was doing that it turned out to be mouth issues not pollen - she had two big wolf teeth that had errupted since last year and she was very uncomfortable. Stopped after we removed them!
 
Hazzelnutt said:
I have a mare who has a very sensitive respiratory system and when she was doing that it turned out to be mouth issues not pollen - she had two big wolf teeth that had errupted since last year and she was very uncomfortable. Stopped after we removed them!
Click to expand...
She was seen by the dentist this week. Apart from the usual diastemas she always has there was nothing major.
 
my gelding has started doing this and coughing, but only on one particular road! I did put a nose net on for a few rides and it improved but I took it off thinking the pollen was gone but wish i'd left it on, and now I keep forgetting to put it back on! maybe this is my reminder to do it again tonight
 
my gelding has started doing this and coughing, but only on one particular road! I did put a nose net on for a few rides and it improved but I took it off thinking the pollen was gone but wish i'd left it on, and now I keep forgetting to put it back on! maybe this is my reminder to do it again tonight
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top